Refet Bele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Refet Bele
1314-P. 39 |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1881 Selanik, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 3 October 1963 (aged 81–82) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Buried |
Zincirlikuyu Mezarlığı
State Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire Turkey |
| Years of service | Ottoman Empire: 1899–1919 Turkey: 13 July 1919 – 8 December 1926 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held | Division of the intelligence of the headquarters of the Fourth Army, 10th Division, 3rd Division, 11th Division, Inspector of the Rear Area of Jerusalem, 53rd Division, XXII Corps (deputy), XX Corps, Gendarmerie General Command, III Corps Minister of the Interior, Southern Part of the Western Front, Minister of Interior, Minister of National Defense, Representative of the TBMM government in Istanbul |
| Battles/wars | Italo Turkish war Balkan Wars First World War War of Independence |
| Other work | Member of the GNAT (Izmir) Member of the GNAT (Istanbul) |
Refet Bele (born in 1881, died October 3, 1963) was an important Turkish military leader. People also knew him as Refet Bey or Refet Pasha. He served in both the Ottoman Army and later the Turkish Army. He retired from the army as a general.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Refet Bele was born in 1881 in Selanik (which is now Thessaloniki, Greece). His family was Turkish. He got the last name Bele from his grandfather, who was from a place called Byala (also known as Bele) in Bulgaria.
Because of problems in the Balkans, his family first moved to Istanbul. But they later returned to Thessaloniki when he was a baby. He went to the Ottoman Military College. After finishing, he joined the army. He also became part of a group called the Committee of Union and Progress.
Early Conflicts
Refet Bele took part in the Italo-Turkish War in 1911. After that, he fought in the First Balkan War (1912–1913). During this war, his hometown of Thessaloniki was taken by the Greeks.
He also fought in World War I. He was a Lieutenant Colonel under the command of Kress von Kressenstein. They fought in the Battle of Romani, where the Ottoman forces were defeated.
Service in Palestine
In the Sinai and Palestine campaign, Refet Bele showed great skill during the Second Battle of Gaza. He first refused to surrender. Then, he successfully organized the retreat of Ottoman and German soldiers with their weapons.
However, some people, including Erich Von Falkenhayn, blamed Refet Bele and Ismet İnönü for the Ottoman defeat. In 1918, during a British advance, Refet Bele was separated from his troops. He managed to travel for a week through British lines to reach the Ottoman base at Tyre, which was 75 miles north. He did not speak English. He avoided being caught by moving at night and by saluting and riding calmly when questioned. He returned to Istanbul after the Armistice of Mudros in 1918.
Turkish War of Independence
While Refet Bele was in Istanbul, foreign powers began to occupy much of Anatolia. The Greeks landed at İzmir in 1919. In response to this occupation, Refet Bele decided to join the Turkish National Movement. This movement aimed to fight for Turkey's independence.
He crossed over to Anatolia to help organize resistance. He joined the Turkish War of Independence, which was led by Atatürk. Refet Bele took part in important meetings like the Amasya Circular in 1919. He also attended the Erzurum Congress, Alaşehir Congress, and Sivas Congress.
Later, he served as a minister and then as a commander on the Western Front. Here, he fought against the Greek armies. He also helped to stop several local uprisings against the new government in Ankara.
Later Life
Refet Bele had some political disagreements with Atatürk. Because of this, he lost some of his influence. In 1926, he faced a court case but was found innocent. That same year, he retired from the army and from being a member of parliament. In his later life, he took on several different jobs, including serving a second time as a member of parliament. He passed away in Istanbul in 1963.
See also
- List of high-ranking commanders of the Turkish War of Independence
